Elliott: R. I. P. Tim Thompson, ex-Toronto Maple Leaf -- updated

Former Toronto Maple Leaf veteran Tim Thompson.

October 27, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Initially, I met Tim Thompson in the Olympic Stadium press box in 1981. It was a pleasant exchange. He was scouting for the St. Louis Cardinals. I was new to the Montreal Expos beat so he was guarded.

We probably didn’t have a lengthy conversation until the 1984 season, after he’d seen me around a few times. It was during a rain delay. Yes, this was before the orange roof was installed at Olympic Stadium.

Thompson was from Pennsylvania. He was quiet and unassuming. I did not know how long he played in the majors until years later. He did have a sense of humor. He told me of how he had played triple-A for the Montreal Royals. And in 1958 he wound up -- eventually -- playing for the triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs.

At the end of April, Detroit Tigers general manager John McHale -- by this time the Expos boss, probably about 300 feet from us as we spoke -- called in Thompson and told him his contract had been sold to the Maple Leafs.

Jack Tighe, the Tiger manager, told Thompson not to report. “He wanted to keep me and told me to phone (Toronto owner) Jack Kent Cooke -- tell him you’re not coming.” Thompson did that and said McHale threatened to ‘black ball,’ Thompson from baseball. After a few calls between Detroit and Toronto, Cooke called Thompson himself.

“Mr. Cooke asked me ‘Tim, what kind of car do you drive?’” Thompson said. “I answered ‘I drive big cars, big Buicks’ Even though I drove a Chevy. Mr Cooke said, ‘You go to the dealer. Pick out a car. Tell the owner to bill me.’”

Thompson headed to the dealer and bought the biggest Buick on the lot.

“And that’s how I would up playing in Toronto.”

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Former Blue Jays scout Ben McClure called Tuesday night. I have not heard from him in about five years. Calling to yak about the World Series? No, it was sad news. Thompson had passed away at age 97.

“Tim was like my father, I couldn’t have a better friend, he was my best friend,” said McClure, who scouted for from 1974 until 2016. “If I know anything about scouting it because of him ... Tim was the best friend I’ve ever in the world.”

The mentor relationship began in 1968. McClure was a teacher and a high school coach while Thompson was a Cardinal scout. Six years later Thompson hired McClure as a bird dog.

McClure lived near Hershey and called Thompson to see a high school senior that the younger scout thought was a prospect. Thompson didn’t say much.

“So Tim calls a couple of days later, ‘what are you doing Saturday?’ he asks,” McClure recalled. On Saturday they drive to Red Lion, Penn. ... “the bus pulls in and off steps this 6-foot-2, 180 pounder ... This is what we’re looking for, he’s bigger, stronger, younger, he’s a switch hitter and he’s a catcher. It was Butch Wynegar (who played 13 years in the majors.)”

Thompson told McClure when he went to the park to never, ever argue with fans. “If they tell you their shortstop is the best this high school has had in years, just nod yes ... they don’t know what is 50 miles down the road.”

From 1982 to 2000, McClure worked for the Blue Jays under scouting directors Bob Engle and Tim Wilken picking up a pair of World Series rings. McClure signed relievers Bob File and Rob McDonald, who he saw start the second game of a Rutgers doubleheader.

“There was the big crowd of scouts for the first game,” McClure said. “Everyone left. I thought the second game starter was better. Plus he was a lefty.”

From 2000-to-2008 he was with the San Diego Padres and then worked for the Milwaukee Brewers until he retired after the 2016 season.

The names of the men with special eyes — the Mid Atlantic Scout Association Hall of Fame — are written on the walls at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

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Thompson, oldest living memeber of the Mid Atlantic Scouts Association Hall of Fame, played 495 games for the ball Leafs. He hit 50 homers with 194 RBIs during his time in Toronto.

He was an early version of Rick Bosetti and Paul Molitor living year round in Toronto for two years.

Thompson suggested to Cooke he spent the off season selling seasons tickets. It had been written he brought in $80,000 in one month selling tickets. He did off season publicity and sold billboards, but was it was difficult. Cooke wanted for Toronto to be a major-league city he knocked his own (triple-A product) fans eventually stopped coming.

As a youngster Gord Ash was a Maple Leaf fan, especially Eli Grba, since he had pitched for the New York Yankees.

“Absolutely I remember Tim Thompson,” Ash said. “The 1960 team was one of the best minor league teams of all time. I believe I have an 8x10 glossy photo of Tim. It was always a good experience to run into him as a scout once I became involved with the Blue Jays.

“I’m sorry to hear of his passing.”

In 2001, during the centennial celebration of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Minor League Baseball asked historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright to name the top 100 minor league teams. Of the 69 franchises to make the list, 14 appeared more than once. The Baltimore Orioles took six places on the list, followed by the Ft. Worth Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs with five apiece.

The 1960 Maple Leafs went 100–54 under manager Mel McGaha and featured the likes of future major leaguers like Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, Al Cicotte, Steve Demeter, Don Dillard, Frank Funk, Billy Moran, Ron Negray, Steve Ridzik, Pat Scantlebury, Chuck Tanner, Archie Wilson and Bob Wilson.

Leaside’s Wayne Weller, Tex Breckenridge , Roger Neilson’s best pal, and Tim Thompson, Jr.

His son, also named Tim, played for Richardson’s in the Leaside midget loop at The Shrine, known as Talbot Park, for legendary hockey coach Roger Neilson, when his father played for the Maple Leafs. After the triple-A season when the Thompsons returned to Harrisburg, Neilson’s right-hand man, Tex Breckenridge, would drive south and bring Tim Jr. back for playoff games. In 1960 Tim ranked third with a .376 batting average and 16 RBIs.

Tim Jr. turned pro pitching at rookie-class Pocatello and class-A St. Petersburg in the Los Angles Dodgers system and then St. Pete’s, class-A Modesto and double-A Arkansas in the Cardinals system.

Thompson took over for Johnny Lipon managing the 1961 Leafs, who went 76-79.

He played 187 games with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City A’s and Tigers he hit .238 with 47 RBIs. After the 1957 season, Thompson was part of a 13-player trade as Kansas City sent him, along with Billy Martin, Gus Zernial, Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan and Lou Skizas to the Tigers for Bill Tuttle, Frank House, Duke Maas, Kent Hadley, Jim Small, John Tsitouris, and Jim McManus.

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With St. Louis, Thompson signed Tommy Herr, Ricky Horton, Clay Kirby, two-sport star Brian Jordan, and John Mabry.

Among his teammates in the majors were Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider and Tommy Lasorda.

In July, Thompson was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Mifflin County Sports Hall of Fame, a local chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

“But Tim wasn’t well enough to make it,” said McClure.